Lunch at Walter's Reef
Two past presidents of the St. Augustine Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and their wives recently treated themselves to a gourmet lunch at the First Coast Technical Institute's Walter's Reef Cafe.

Go & Do
TODAY
Chocolate and wine: Enjoy a glass of port, bubbly or wine with a selection of bon bons and other chocolate, from 5 to 8 p.m. each Friday at Claude's Chocolate, 15 Hypolita St., dowtown St. Augustine. Call 808-8395.

Social Security Q & A
Q: To get Social Security disability benefits, I heard that I have to have a disability that will last one year. But do I have to be disabled for a whole year before I apply?

100th birthday celebration set
Former St. Augustine resident Cleo English will celebrate her 100th birthday Aug. 25 in Clarksville, Ga.Mrs. English lived in St. Augustine for 60 years before returning to her native Clarksville several years ago.Family and friends invite all to come share in the occasion during a birthday celebration to be held at the Return Baptist Church on Highway 105 in Clarksville, on Aug. 25, beginning at 1 p.m.

COA subjects range from crime convention to crafting
Every Tuesday is bingo day at the Coastal Community Center, 180 Marine St. The SNAP program offers bingo from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Once you've worked up an appetite, enjoy a deli-style ham sandwich on multi grain bread, served with three-bean salad, fresh fruit and beverage for $5.

Peace Corps topic for recent COA program
Adam Graham visited the Coastal Community Center, 180 Marine St. July 23 for a special presentation on his two-year travels and teaching experiences in Kazakhstan as a volunteer with the Peace Corps. Graham took Center participants on a pictorial tour of the country and fielded a host of questions from the audience. According to Graham, the three main goals of the Peace Corps are to bring technology and technological education to developing countries, to learn about the county in which you are working and to bring knowledge about other cultures and countries back to America upon your return. During his 27-month stay, Graham spent much of his time teaching English and improving communication skills of the teachers already in place in Kazakhstan. He lived with a host family and learned about life with no running water and the absence of other luxuries that we in the United States consider to be basic necessities.Graham also reminded everyone that the Peace Corps has no age limitations and that the oldest volunteer to serve in the organization was 81 years old.

Book Mobile Schedule
The following is the schedule for the St. Johns County Public Library System's book mobile for the week of Aug. 13.

Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Teen pop sensation, music manager, bandleader, educational DVD entrepreneur; vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Rick Levy has had his fingers in a lot of different pies. Fueled by his love of music and anything music related, he has been a performer for more than 30 years.

New teen club and other events in North St. Johns County
New teen club
Teen Bliss, a space for middle and high school age students, is open each Friday and Saturday night on County Road 210, in Northwest St. Johns County. A $10 cover charge allows teens to dance the night away, hang out in the Tiki lounge area, play arcade games and billiards, and socialize in a supervised environment. Hours are 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Teens grade 6-12 are welcome, with school IDs accepted once the academic year begins. Churches, teen clubs and schools are encouraged to contact the club to be placed on an e-mail list for upcoming events. For more details, call 657-1447, e-mail clubbliss@bellsouth.net, or go to myspace.com/clubteenbliss.

Plein Air painting & animal art
The Impressionists were a genre of artists from the 19th century whose intent was to capture the effects natural light had on the landscape. To achieve this, they set their easels up outdoors even in hot and humid weather. En plein air artists still exist. In fact, St. Augustine can boast about the late Emmett Fritz as one of their own. Some remember him hanging out of his studio window sketching St. George Street.

An Afternoon With Mark Twain
Mark Twain will appear at the Limelight Theater for one afternoon only, portrayed by Don Runk.Runk first portrayed Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain's real name) in 1998 during a Victorian Spring Event in downtown St. Augustine. He wrote the script for that portrayal and has re-written scripts for several performances since then. This one-man show will be the result of his fourth and most recent revision, which is in his words is "by far the best and tightest production I've done."

'VITAL SIGNS' on stage by new theater group
Eleven women have taken on the exciting task of creating the 28 characters in "Vital Signs," by Jane Martin. This newly-formed theater group, The Women's Theater Project, will perform in Palm Coast.

Creating a buzz
Michael Winslow is back for an encore. Returning for an annual St. Augustine show at The Comedy Club at Gypsy Cab Co., this comedian and all around talented guy is known as the "man of 1,000 sound effects."

St. Augustine Sings
The hunt is on for the best vocalist in St. Johns County, and after all the applications and judging there are 11 finalists -- each vying for the honor of being the first winner of the St. Augustine Sings competition.

Upcoming events
Aug. 17
Art class: Students age 11 to 14 are invited to an art class hosted by the GTMNERR, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will focus on drawing butterflies and marsh scenes with the option of a collage project. Cost is $45 per student, with materials supplied. To reserve a seat, call 635-0941.

Herman's Hermits and The Limits
Teen pop sensation, music manager, bandleader, educational DVD entrepreneur; vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Rick Levy has had his fingers in a lot of different pies. Fueled by his love of music and anything music related, he has been a performer for more than 30 years.

Dancing around town
Second Sunday of each month: Join the community theatre in the Ponce Mall for the tea dance from 3 to 5 p.m. Cost is $5; call 553-5868.

Hunt for new shoes
The silver lining for children who aren't happy that a new year of school is just around the corner is that new stuff -- clothes, accessories and supplies -- is likely to come with it.

Garden Q&A
Q. There is a dried seed pod on my amaryllis plant. How do I harvest and grow the seeds?

New arrivals in area dine on algae, lichen, fungi
Their habitat is coastal or marine hammocks, usually in South Florida and especially the Everglades. The snails on my desk were Manatee tree snails (Drymaeus dormani). About two thirds of an inch long with a spiral shell, a white background and brown bands, it's one of many varieties of Florida tree snails. Living on the bark of hardwood trees, they harmlessly scrape off meals of fungi, algae and lichen.

Learn to make hypertufa pots
One thing that personalizes a garden are the hard items that are in it. Clever signs, unique furnishings and decorator pots all add a sense of style to the space. If you want to add some style to your garden, consider making some hypertufa pots.

Variety key to landscape
Dee Buchanan admits that she doesn't buy a lot of plants. "Most of my plantings came from snippets and cuttings from friends." Occasionally she will find an interesting plant growing between a sidewalk crack or in a vacant lot.

Get free dogwoods
By joining The National Arbor Day Foundation this month, you will receive 10 free white flowering dogwood trees in the fall.

Tip of the week
Amend your soil
Amend areas to be planted four to six weeks prior to plant installation, advises the St. Johns County Extension Service.

Deaths climb to 8 in bridge collapse
MINNEAPOLIS -- Divers found another body Friday in the wreckage of the interstate bridge, bringing the death toll from last week's collapse to at least eight.

National report
Man slips past screeners at Charlotte airport
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Authorities have stopped searching for a man who bypassed security screening Friday at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and officials said he may have simply walked out of the airport.

Meteor show this weekend
LOS ANGELES -- Summer's annual meteor shower promises to put on a dazzling show when it peaks this weekend -- provided you're far from city lights.

Rescuers hold out hope for miners
LOS ANGELES -- A first attempt to contact six miners trapped in a collapsed Utah mine failed, but rescuers and mine officials said Thursday they still had hope the men are alive.

3rd body believed found in wreckage
MINNEAPOLIS -- Divers pulled at least two more bodies from the wreckage of the collapsed Mississippi River bridge Thursday, bringing the disaster's confirmed death toll to seven, more than a week after the span crumbled.

Woman ailing after river rescue
A woman who helped rescue a 12-year-old autistic boy from the San Sebastian River earlier this week is now in the hospital with pneumonia, says her family.

For The Record
Back-to-school physicals
The St. Johns County Health Department (SJCHD) is offering extended hours for children's back-to-school physical exams on Aug. 14, 16, 21 and 23. School physical exams are available at the SJCHD by appointment only. Parents/legal guardians may schedule an appointment by calling 825-5055 ext. 1075.

Go & Do
TODAY
Grand opening: Join Anastasia Island in welcoming in the new Anastasia Island Branch Library. A day of events follows the ribbon cutting ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. Call 209-0549 or 209-6925.

COA buying land for new bus depot
After working to assemble funds for two years, the local Council on Aging's transportation center recently received enough money to buy land for a new building depot.

Endangered Species Act working, but broken
Three species have been removed from protections under the Endangered Species Act in the last year -- the American bald eagle, the Yellowstone grizzly bear and the Great Lakes gray wolves -- more than in any other single year since the act was created in 1973.

Man to defend himself
A "career criminal" who faces the death penalty when he goes to trial for a double homicide will be allowed to defend himself.

Teens face charges in 40 car larcenies
Flagler County detectives announced Thursday they're returning more than $20,000 in stolen property to owners after solving 40 car larcenies in the Palm Coast area.

Police report: Juvenile arrested
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
Juvenile arrested: A 16-year-old St. Johns County youth faces two counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling and petit theft.

Police Report:
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
Fuel leak at gas station: A tractor-trailer truck fueling at the Flying J off State Road 206 had a leak in its tank Thursday at 10 a.m., said Jeremy Robshaw, St. Johns County Fire Rescue spokesman.

Larry Austin Alexander
Larry Austin Alexander, 64, of Crescent Beach, died Aug. 9, 2007, at his residence. He was born in Atlanta, Ga., and had lived there for most of his life, retiring to St. Augustine in 2005. For more than 30 years he owned and operated Star Glass Company in the Atlanta area. He served in the Georgia National Guard and was a member of the American Legion and the Eagle Landing Country Club.

Iva F. Beach
Iva F. Beach, 91, of Palatka, died Aug. 8, 2007, at the Palatka Health Care Center. Mrs. Beach was a lifelong resident of St. Augustine, only recently moving to Palatka. Mrs. Beach was a homemaker, and she was of the Catholic faith.

Vincent Francis Pahl
Vincent Francis Pahl, 72, of St. Augustine died Aug. 10, 2007, at his home, Mr. Pahl was a native of Los Angeles, and had resided in St. Augustine. Mr. Pahl was a cabinet maker and he served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was a graduate of the Officers Candidate School and he received his bachelor of arts degree from Pomona College.

Laurie Ann Smith
Laurie Ann Smith, 34, of Hastings, died on Aug. 5, 2007, in East Palatka. She was born in New Orleans, La., and had resided in Hastings since 2002, moving here from Lacombe, La. She was a homemaker.

Carolyn Angeline Thomas Skinner
Carolyn Angeline Thomas Skinner, 63, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. She was born in St. Augustine on Aug. 17, 1943, to Amos Edmond and Clemens Allie Thomas.

Letter: Killing livestock for food is not a brutal act
Editor: A recent letter comparing the slaying of livestock (for food) to that of brutalizing and slaughtering eight dogs for sport was eerie and misplaced. We Americans love our dogs and cats and we treat them better than any country in the world.

Recipe for avoiding risky bridges: hold the Mayo
When the bridge collapsed in Minneapolis, several people called me to see if I was okay, and I was in New York, standing in line at H&H Bagels at 80th and Broadway, which came as a disappointment to my friends, calling to commiserate about a tragedy, hoping for a good story ("I crossed that bridge 45 seconds before it went down, I felt it wobble"), but H&H is where I was, me and my St. Paul cell phone, waiting for cream cheese with scallions and three poppy-seed bagels. "I thought you were here," they said. "No, I'm in New York," I replied.

Letter: Humane Society needs help
Editor: I have visited the St. Augustine Humane Society on numerous occasions and was appalled at the conditions from the front office to the kennels. I witnessed kennels being hosed down with a bleach solution with the dogs still in the kennels. The cat area would make you ill. The neglect is so apparent. The front office has a terrible odor that greets people coming in to adopt. These are just common sense cleaning issues.I was sent over to the kennel area unescorted to look at dogs available for adoption. I was met by a woman with whom I had difficulty communicating questions about the dogs.

Letter: IGP speed zone a trap
Editor: It is 35 mph or 45 mph? I obey the speed limit but I have become frustrated with the speed limit signs between State Road 16 and Interstate 95 (International Golf Parkway).

Perspective: The (Leesburg) Daily Commercial
Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist vowed that property insurance rates would fall, thanks to legislation that allowed insurers to get state-backed insurance at a lower cost.

Letter: Encore requested for 'Inherit The Wind'
Editor: It was a great four-day run. Director Philip Rappa and ACT (A Classic Theatre Company) brought to the St. Augustine stage the classic play "Inherit the Wind." It is indeed a privilege to have such luminaries as Rappa and Jean Rahner, president of ACT, providing artistic opportunities for the community thirsting for culture.

Malaysians debate religious identity
LANGKAWI, Malaysia -- The large Buddhist, Christian and Hindu minorities in Malaysia are increasingly expressing concern over their place in the majority Muslim country.

Women's day is Sunday at New St. James
New St. James Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate Women's Day beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday with Sunday school followed by 10 a.m. worship. Theme is "Women of Praise."

Traveling Team
In an era of easy travel and global community, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center offers international trips that are very different from the typical poolside vacation.

Notes
Backpack give-away
Homeport Christian Church presents a backpack giveaway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 18. All are invited to enjoy free food, games for kids, door prizes, cotton candy, popcorn, snow-cones, backpacks and school physicals. The church is located at 5605 U.S. 1 South. Call 797-8921 for information. Lending a hand for this event are Topaz Grill, Hess, Craig Funeral Home, Chick-fil-A , Domino's, CiCi's Pizza, Sonic, Deprey Chiropractic to name a few.

Volunteers sought
For those interested in going on the Cameroon trip Oct. 8-30 or simply wanting to hear more about the Center and its mission, visit www.ocmc.org or call 1-877-GO-FORTH.

There's no scarcity of star running backs in Heisman race
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- In 1994, Colorado's Rashaan Salaam beat out Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter for the Heisman Trophy. Neither running back went on to do much in the NFL, but that race remains notable for an interesting bit of trivia.

Daly sees a lot of the course en route to 73
TULSA, Okla. -- If Tiger Woods is a Rembrandt, John Daly is a paint-by-number Elvis on black velvet. Tacky, for sure. Yet there's something oddly endearing about it, and you can't help but gawk.

The roundup
Discovery Channel team calls it quits
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Lance Armstrong era in cycling is over.

Thursday's NL Capsules
ST. LOUIS -- Failed pitcher Rick Ankiel hit a three-run homer to cap his debut as a major league outfielder, and Joel Pineiro worked seven scoreless innings in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.

Woods sizzles
TULSA, Okla. -- They could hear him coming simply by following the cheers that charted every birdie along the back nine. The sweat-soaked spectators rose to their feet when Tiger Woods climbed onto the 18th green with history waiting at a major.

Gators' top concern is rebuilt defense
GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer walked off the practice field earlier this week, called his wife and said the defense was going to be just fine.

Thursday's AL Capsules
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kyle Davies pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning in his home debut for Kansas City and combined with three relievers to help the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 on Thursday.

Cleveland honors Larry Doby
CLEVELAND -- Larry Doby waited years before he told his son certain baseball stories, the ones of hatred and horror, the ones he faced as the first black to play in the American League.

Hardaway wants to win NBA title
MIAMI -- Now able to run and jump without pain for the first time in five years, Penny Hardaway insists there's still much he can do in the NBA.
The Miami Heat apparently agree.

Storm takes lead as Daly arrives out of the blue
TULSA, Okla. -- No one knew John Daly was in town until he showed up Thursday morning at Southern Hills for the first time in 13 years. Not many knew who Graeme Storm was until he showed up atop the leaderboard in a PGA Championship rife with surprises.

Gordon to start from pole after qualifying rain-out
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Jeff Gordon started from the back of the field in NASCAR's first road race of the Nextel Cup season after his team was penalized for a technical violation. This time, he'll start from the pole.

Publix will no longer match other pharmacy discounts
TALLAHASSEE -- With the inception of its new program offering several antibiotics for free, Publix officials said Thursday that the chain's pharmacies will no longer match the discount prices of other pharmacies.

News briefs from around Florida
Mother pleads guilty to abandoning newborn
TAMPA -- A woman accused of giving birth to a baby girl in an alley and leaving her to die has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child.

State says voting machine flaws now fixed
TALLAHASSEE -- Flaws in optical scan voting machines that could have allowed poll workers to alter election results have been fixed, Secretary of State Kurt Browning said Friday.

Former astronaut wants ankle bracelet removed
ORLANDO -- Former astronaut Lisa Nowak wants a judge to let her remove the ankle bracelet that allows authorities to track her location as she awaits trial for allegedly attacking a romantic rival, saying it is "an unnecessary and excessive expense."

Officials find small gouge on Endeavour's belly
CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA discovered a worrisome gouge on Endeavour's belly soon after the shuttle docked with the international space station Friday, possibly caused by ice that broke off the fuel tank a minute after liftoff.

Broward deputy fatally shot
POMPANO BEACH -- A Broward County sheriff's deputy looking for stolen vehicles at a drug store was killed early Friday in the second shooting of a deputy in the county this week. Authorities were trying to track down suspects in the latest case.

Chinese tire maker lashes out at recall
BEIJING -- Firing back over product safety fears, China's Health Ministry accused foreign media Friday of exaggerating the country's food purity problems, while a Chinese tire maker at the center of a huge U.S. recall accused the American importer of distortions.

China's July trade surplus at $24.4 billion
BEIJING -- China's trade surplus soared 67 percent in July from a year ago to its second-highest monthly level on record, according to data reported Friday, amid pressure by U.S. lawmakers to sanction Beijing over trade and currency disputes.

World report
Car bomb kills 11 in Kirkuk, Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A car bomb tore through a produce market in the northern city of Kirkuk on Friday morning, police said, killing at least 11 people and wounding 45 others.

Snake bites surge in South Asia
NEW DELHI -- The monsoon rains that flood wide stretches of South Asia each year force creatures large and small onto whatever dry land can be found, and the result is scores, if not hundreds, of fatal snake bites.